The ICJ strongly condemns the indiscriminate killing of worshipers during evening prayers on June 8th at the Alfurquan Mosque in Ai Payae Village, Narathiwat Province, Thailand.
Thailand-ICJ Condemns Killing of at least 10 Worshipers-Press releases-2009 (full text, PDF)
The ICJ has carefully followed the recent developments in the Swaziland Supreme Court.
In its judgment in the appeal case of National Constitutional Assembly v. Prime Minister and Others decided on 21 May 2009, Swaziland’s highest court ruled that the Tinkhundla-based electoral system – which excludes political parties from the electoral process – did not constitute a violation of freedom of association as guaranteed by article 25 of the Swaziland constitution.
Swaziland-Statement Regarding the Supreme Court’s Ruling-web story-2009 (full text, PDF)
Read the 34th issue of ICJ’s monthly newsletter on proposed and actual changes in counter-terrorism laws, policies and practices and their impact on human rights at the national, regional and international levels.
The ICJ is concerned by the government’s failure to enact legislation that would criminalize the practice of enforced disappearances, investigate past cases, prosecute the perpetrators and provide reparation to victims.
Nepal-After Two Years, Government Still in Non-Compliance-Press releases-2009 (full text, PDF)
The ICJ is disappointed at verdict delivered by a Thai court.
“We are disappointed at the verdict delivered today by the Songkhla Provincial Court, which found that the 78 men who were transported from Tak Bai to Ingkayuthaborihaan Army Camp in October 2004 died as a result of suffocation, without acknowledging all the factual circumstances that caused their deaths,” said Roger Normand, Asia-Pacific Director of the ICJ.
Thailand-Court delivers disappointing post-mortem inquest findings-web story-2009 (full text, PDF)
The ICJ urged the UN Human Rights Council’s special session to call on the Government of Sri Lanka to take several human rights measures.
In particular, the Government of Sri Lanka must ensure unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to the internally displaced persons (IDPs), protection of IDPs, safeguards against attacks on journalists and human rights defenders and effective accountability, including through an independent international investigation into human rights and humanitarian law violations.
The ICJ deplored that the draft resolution L.1/Rev.2, which was later adopted by vote, failed to address the most pressing concerns.
SriLanka-UNcouncil-news-2009 (full text, PDF)
India: Joint statement urging Indian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release human rights defender and student activist Umar Khalid
HRC60: Statement by the International Commission of Jurists in the Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence
HRC60: International Commission of Jurists in the General Debate under Item 2
Serbia: Political leaders must cease interference with the judiciary